THE LARK. 113 



Lo ! the Place!— by a river whose stream runs 

 along 

 In a warble as soft as the Nightingale's song ; 

 In whose deeps of clear crystal the maculate trout 

 Is seen swiftly darting or sporting about ; — 



The Arborea, or Wood-lark, is less than the sky-lark : the 

 plumage is more pale and inclined to rufous, yet varied like 

 that bird : the head is surrounded with a white ring or fillet ; 

 legs flesh colour. Found in this country, throughout Europe, 

 and, it is said, in Siberia and Kamtschatka. Nest on the ground 

 in tufts of grass, like the sky-lark : eggs four or five, dusky 

 brown blotched with dusky, with smaller reddish spots. It 

 sings as it flies : but it also perches on trees, when it likewise 

 sings : its note has been compared to the blackbird's and the 

 nightingale's : it is however a sweet and varied song. It some- 

 times soars to a great height in the air, flying in circles, and 

 continues so to do for a long time. It is not gregarious like the 

 arvensis, being rarely seen in greater number than six or seven 

 together. 



The Pratensis, or Tit-lark, inhabits Europe in low grounds, 

 and well known in this country : it is five and a half inches long: 

 has a fine note, and sings sitting on trees or on the ground. 

 The bill is black: body above dusky brown, beneath, white: 

 breast ochre yellow with oblong black spots : legs yellowish: 

 nest on the ground. 



The Magna, Meadow-lark, or Old Field-lark, of Wilson, 

 is ten inches and a half long, extent sixteen and a half: throat, 

 belly, breast, a rich yellow ; inside lining and edge of the wing 

 the same colour ; back beautifully variegated with black, 

 bright bay, and pale ochre; legs and feet pale flesh-colour and 

 very large. Nest, in or beneath a thick tuft of grass, com- 

 posed of dry grass and fine bent, and wound all round leaving 



